#143 Roasted Veggie, basil & Ricotta Puff pastry tart
A week of many things, none of them particularly interesting:
I can reliably confirm that 3:28 on a Wednesday morning is not an ideal time to be rattled awake by your barky pooch for no apparent reason. I think I’m still shaking now from the trauma… it did, however, mean I was still awake at 4:12 and the start of the dawn chorus which was a very magical thing to experience. Tell me though, how does this work? I mean, who chooses to be the first awake? Do they take turns? Or does a particular breed of bird wake up earlier than others? Are tits the earliest of ‘early birds’? Do pigeons have lie-ins? Might need to Google this.
Less magical is the fact that I have a leaky nose and a raspy throat… I also keep sneezing which I don’t recommend doing if you have a mouthful of seeds… messy, very messy! I’m not sure whether this snotty, sneeze fest is hay fever or a cold but either way, I’m quite grumpy about it.
I’ve also been grumpy about the number of white t-shirts I’ve managed to tie dye with berry juice this week, literally one a day… should really invest in an apron (first world problems, I know!).
And it’s been a week of imperfect bake attempts which has been irritating, because in each case, they were about 93% good… and I don’t work to this statistic, so obviously they need to be retested. They also resulted in some head-scratching ‘how do I make them better’ moments and a few pathetic tears – I know, I need to get a grip, it’s only bloomin cake! - but I now have a plan. Good.
Oh AND, I made a dreadful error and popped into town on Wednesday, and now I want to spend approximately eleventy thousand pounds on things I don’t need. 1 bag, several mugs, most of T K Maxx home stuff, a pair of Birkenstocks, some straws (I LOVE a straw), a bottle of perfume, 12 books, and everything from M&S food hall. So that’s not great.
What remains great is the weather (the UK is glowing at the moment), and eating OUTSIDE - what a treat - the selection of stunning fresh fruits and vegetables that are available (on that, I desperately need to start exercising some restraint - anyone else incapable of passing a punnet of strawbs - and tomatoes, and asparagus etc etc, without buying them? It’s a problem), and subsequently showcasing them in their best lights (I’m talking salads, tarts, cakes and pasta). And then there’s the birds, the bees and the flutterbies, sport (F1, athletics, tennis, golf this week, all fun!), the start of Stanley Tucci’s new series ‘Tucci in Italy’ (couldn’t be more excited!!) and extraordinary people, with kind hearts (I’m looking at you guys!), YES, there’s a lot of great stuff amidst my grumbles.
Specific food highs this week:
A salmon Niçoise - a roasted/baked salmon fillet, a boiled egg, boiled Jersey Royal pots & green beans, olives, and a tumble of other veggie bits - asparagus, courgette, broccoli - drizzled with a super simple balsam/EVOO dressing (3 parts oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar and a blob of French mustard - divine), a scattering of herbs too, enjoyed al fresco - glorious!!!
A deconstructed egg salad bagel sandwich sitch: Linseed bagel, salty French butter, a not too hard, not too soft, perfectly boiled egg, and salad-y bits. Outside. THE DREAM.
Another ricotta veggie puff tart (this week’s main event recipe wise), it’s perfect food for this weather - has you covered on all levels!
A one-bowl summer snacky cake situation that I need to fine-tune for you, because honestly, it’s a winner - like ridiculously simple, customisable - lovely stuff!
More strawberry custard tarts - these are going to be ready for you next week and if you’re not excited, WHY NOT!?
Two more summer dessert ideas that I’m excited to get right… because I think you’ll love them!
Soft poppy seed rolls, like the ones my grandad would get for me to have after school!
Frozen mango (straight from the freezer), bit rogue but I chopped up a surplus mango I had and froze it in chunks. They’re like little sorbet cubes.
Herb crusted haddock, boiled new pots and potatoes - more delicious freshness!
Crisps, cold drinks, wine, olives, roasted corn…. snacks, period.
I’m quite sure there have been other foodie delights - but these are the most memorable ones…
ALL of the above...
And I think that’s about it for another week…
As ever, I’m sending so much love to you all - I hope you’re doing ok. If you’re struggling up ‘Wobble Way’ at the moment, I get it, I’m holding your hand. Keep believing in better, brilliant glimmery moments, they will come!
Big hugs,
Steph X X X
Roasted Veggie, basil & Ricotta Puff pastry tart
Savoury puff pastry tarts seem to be in the spotlight at the moment, and for good reason. They are a doddle to throw together, they’re endlessly customisable and they pack an almighty flavour punch. Also… (yes there are more great things) they’re super flexible; lunch, dinner, re-heats, BBQ, dinner party, they serve every purpose.
Let me make it clear from the get-go though, this is not an ingenious idea of mine, I have very much been influenced! However, I’d like to think I’ve bought something a little different to the table… shining the spotlight on a few of my favourite ingredients, with a little nod to pizza, a spot of quiche vibes'; the best of all worlds.
First off, I lightly pre-roast some of my courgette to assure it has a nice bit of colour to it. Next, we have a buttery sheet of (shop bought - yes you can make your own, but I did not), puff pastry. I give this a little pre-lim bake sans topping because I cannot BEAR any degree of sog to my pastry. Then the middle is pressed down and layered with a herby, garlicky ricotta mixture, followed by the roasted courgette and tomatoes, a scattering of pine nuts and a shower of parmesan. I mean, you can’t really ask for much more can you? It goes back in the oven for a final little bake and that’s it, DONE. So easy, so delicious, you have to try… now!!!!
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